by MEREDITH BAUER-MITCHELL, UF/IFAS
Without Googling, do you know what UF/IFAS is?
That’s one question a team of public policy researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to answer.
The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center) is asking Floridians to complete a brief questionnaire about how much they know about UF/IFAS and what problems they hope to see UF/IFAS help solve.
“We’re hoping UF/IFAS will be able to stay in touch with the needs of Floridians as they change,” said Erica Odera, UF/IFAS PIE Center associate scientist. “UF/IFAS is here for the public good, and we want to make sure the programs and efforts we invest in are addressing the needs of all residents.”
The three-part questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete. It will be used to help make decisions about future research initiatives, Extension outreach and educational programming. The questionnaire is available in English and in Spanish.
While the PIE Center has already surveyed people who work in the agriculture industry, they particularly want to hear from people who work in other industries across Florida.
Ricky Telg, PIE Center director, said the questionnaire’s results will help UF/IFAS understand which problems across Florida UF/IFAS is equipped to assist with, but also which issues the institute is already addressing – but public awareness may be lacking about those programs.
In addition to this part of the study, the PIE Center has asked for input from industry professionals in agriculture, natural resources, non-profits, county governments and other groups.
“All of these findings are intended to be actionable and will be used to make UF/IFAS even stronger,” Telg said. “This project helps us understand which work we’re doing in research, teaching and Extension aligns with the public’s needs.”
Provided by UF/IFAS